Sourcing & CITES Ethics
FOREZA · Compliance · CITES Appendix II · Aquilaria sinensis
By FOREZA Editorial · Last updated 2026-06-04 · 10 min read · Compliance & Sourcing
Every piece of FOREZA Kyara agarwood is sourced in full compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II listing for Aquilaria sinensis. This page explains what the listing means, how our cultivation and inoculation practices protect wild populations, what our export permit covers, and what you need to know when importing agarwood into your country.
TL;DR
- CITES Appendix II means trade is allowed with proper documentation — not banned.
- We use controlled fungal inoculation of cultivated trees — never wild harvest.
- A valid CITES export permit from the People's Republic of China is included with every international shipment.
- Import requirements vary by country; see the Importing to Your Country section below.
What is CITES Appendix II?
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between 183 governments that regulates trade in species at risk of over-exploitation. It has three appendices.
| Appendix | Trade Status | Agarwood Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Appendix I | Commercial trade is prohibited. | No agarwood species are listed in Appendix I. |
| Appendix II | Trade is allowed, but each shipment must be accompanied by an export permit from the country of origin. | Aquilaria species (including A. sinensis) have been listed since 2005. |
| Appendix III | Trade is allowed with a certificate of origin, but specific countries have requested additional monitoring. | No agarwood species are listed in Appendix III. |
The 2005 listing of Aquilaria species in Appendix II was a response to over-harvesting of wild populations in the 1990s and early 2000s. The intent was not to ban agarwood trade — agarwood has been a culturally important product for centuries — but to ensure that all trade is documented, traceable, and sourced from cultivated rather than wild populations. Properly managed, agarwood cultivation is a sustainable agricultural practice that provides economic incentive to plant more Aquilaria trees.
Our Sourcing Practices
Three practices set FOREZA's sourcing apart from the historical wild harvest that triggered the CITES listing.
Practice 1: Cultivated, Not Wild
Every piece of FOREZA Kyara comes from cultivated Aquilaria sinensis trees grown in the hills around Guanzhu Town, Maoming, China. We do not source from wild populations. Cultivated trees are planted specifically for agarwood production, which creates an economic incentive to plant more trees, not fewer. This is the single most important sustainability practice in the modern agarwood trade.
Practice 2: Controlled Fungal Inoculation
After 7–10 years of growth, cultivated trees are inoculated with a specific fungal strain (often Phaeoacremonium parasitica or related species) using small drilled holes or controlled bark wounds. The fungus triggers the tree's natural defense response, which causes the heartwood to begin producing oleoresin over the next 3–5 years. The tree remains alive throughout the process; only the heartwood is harvested.
Practice 3: Single-Origin Traceability
Every piece of FOREZA Kyara is traceable to a single origin: Guanzhu Town, Dianbai District, Maoming City, Guangdong, China. We do not blend batches from multiple sources. The certificate of authenticity states the town, not just a country. See Certificate of Authenticity for the six fields on the certificate.
Our CITES Export Permit
FOREZA holds a valid CITES export permit from the People's Republic of China, issued by the State Administration of Forestry and Grassland. The permit is renewed annually and covers all agarwood shipments from our workshop in Guanzhu Town.
What the Permit Includes
- Permit number (printed on the certificate accompanying each shipment)
- Exporter of record (FOREZA / Guanzhu workshop details)
- Species (Aquilaria sinensis, source code "C" for cultivated)
- Description of goods (chips / slices / granules / beads / raw material)
- Quantity (weight in kg)
- Country of origin (People's Republic of China)
- Date of issuance and validity period
Buyers can request a copy of our CITES permit at the time of order. The permit number is also printed on the commercial invoice for every international shipment.
> Tip
If your country's customs office asks to verify our CITES permit, you (or your customs broker) can request a scanned copy from us at zhangxiaobao217@gmail.com with subject "CITES Permit Verification." We respond within 2 business days.
Importing to Your Country
CITES documentation is required at the export stage (which is our responsibility). The import stage is determined by your country's customs office. Below is a general guide; for definitive information, consult your country's CITES Management Authority or your customs broker.
| Region | Import Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | CITES export permit from China is required. USFWS clearance is generally automatic for Appendix II species with valid export documentation. | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) eDecs system handles clearance at the port of entry. Most shipments clear within 1–3 business days. |
| European Union | CITES export permit from China is required. EU member states may have additional import permits for first-time importers. | Each EU country has its own CITES Management Authority. If you are a first-time importer, contact your national authority in advance. |
| United Kingdom | CITES export permit from China is required. Post-Brexit, the UK operates its own CITES system via APHA. | Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) handles CITES imports into the UK. Most retail-sized shipments clear without issue. |
| Middle East / GCC | CITES export permit from China is required. GCC countries are major agarwood importers; clearance is generally routine. | UAE, Saudi, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman each have their own CITES contact. Local customs brokers are familiar with the process. |
| Southeast Asia | CITES export permit from China is required. Most ASEAN countries accept the Chinese permit with minimal additional paperwork. | Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines all process CITES Appendix II imports through their respective environment / forestry agencies. |
For the most up-to-date country-specific requirements, the CITES National Contacts page is the official reference. We can also connect you with a customs broker experienced in agarwood imports for a specific country — just email us at zhangxiaobao217@gmail.com.
Third-Party Testing & Verification
For high-value purchases, some buyers request independent third-party verification of authenticity and grade. We support this practice and provide samples to certified testing laboratories on request.
Common Tests
- GC-MS analysis (Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry) — produces a chemical fingerprint of the essential oil compounds. Authentic Kyara shows a distinct profile dominated by sesquiterpenes and agarofurans.
- Density measurement — Archimedes method. Confirms whether the piece meets the > 1 g/cm³ threshold for Sinking-grade.
- Microscopic examination — examines the wood structure to confirm authentic resin deposition versus surface treatment.
The buyer is responsible for the cost of third-party testing. We can recommend laboratories in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Singapore that are familiar with agarwood analysis. Email us at zhangxiaobao217@gmail.com for the current list.
Single-Origin
Guanzhu Town, Dianbai District, Maoming City, Guangdong, China — the historical "Capital of Chinese Agarwood." Every FOREZA piece is traceable to this origin.
Not Vietnam. Not Indonesia. Not Hainan. 100% authentic Guanzhu agarwood.
Browse CITES-Compliant Kyara Pieces
Every product ships with a valid CITES export permit and a hand-signed Certificate of Authenticity.
Discover Kyara →B2B / Wholesale — CITES Documentation Is Included
For all wholesale orders, CITES export permits are issued per shipment and included in the commercial documentation. We can also coordinate with your customs broker for first-time import clearance.
B2B Inquiry →Continue Exploring
- Certificate of Authenticity
- Our Story — Rooted in the Capital of Agarwood
- Wholesale & B2B Partnerships
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Guanzhu Agarwood: The Capital of Chinese Agarwood
- CITES Permit & Agarwood Import Guide
FOREZA Compliance Team
Direct from Guanzhu, the Capital of Chinese Agarwood. We hold a valid CITES export permit and ship with full documentation. Reach us at zhangxiaobao217@gmail.com.